Electric switch



3 Sheets-Sheet l G. B. WADSWORTH ELECTRICl SWITCH Filed Nov, 17

Jan. 11 1927.

Jan' 11 1927" G. B. wADswoRTH ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 17, 1923.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR/VKS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 17, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. lll, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WADSWQRTH, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOB T0 WADSWOBTH ELECTRIC .AND IANUI'ACTUBINGLCOHPANY, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, A COB'- POBATION 0I KENTUCKY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application iled November 17, 1823. Serial No. 675,380.

My invention relates to externally operated switches and particularly to devices wherein the service door of the switch box carries a member which will lexpose the fuses within the box, but will not expose thelive terminals therein. It relates further to a safety fuse construction whereby the service' station can prevent the plugging of fuses required for domestic and factory protection without locking these normal fuses from access by the customer.

There are now a wide variety of patents .on fuse renewal, externally operated boxes, some of which prevent access to the fuses until the switch is opened by an external handle, and some of which `in addition to this provide a barrier within the box, preventin any tam ering with the live terminals o the switch) when the fuse are. opened l for renewal or observation. My invention as noted, has as its object the provision of a switch box which carries in the lid a fuse exposing hop r-like structure, said hopper having a sli ing shutter, operable b hand from outside of the box, but in whic the switch o ratin member exercises an inhibition or interloc to prevent the Slidm shutter from being operated when the switc is closed.

My invention also relates to the provision of a single block of insulating material such as slate or porcelain in which all terminals for wiring are at one end and still a 'cus tomers fuse or fuses are rovided, as well as a service station fuse, which is removed from access throu h the fuse shutter.

lI accomp 1sh my objects by that certain construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specifically pointed out 'and claimed.

In the drawin s:

Figure 1 is a' ont elevation of the inside of the box with the lid swung wide olpen.

Figure 2 is a rear plan view of t e preferred form of switch and fuse block.

Figure 3 is a section on the. line 3 3 of 1Figure 4in a section on the line 4-4 of Fig.. 1.

- igure 5 is a section on the line of Fig. 1.

the handlekat the other side.

Figure 6" is a like section facing the opposite way of Figure 5 as by the line 6-6 of' handle 8f, having a hub 9, which is shouldered at 10, so that when thrust into place from the A inside of the box, the ,hub will find a journal in a suitable hole in the box, and the shoulder will prevent withdrawal of the handle.

A yoke or bail 11, is rovided, which engages as a pivot in a ho e in one side of the box, and in a central hole in the hub 9 of A The face of the hub is slotted so as to snugly engage the arm of the yoke or bail onV its side, whereb thelei manipulation of. the handle will rock the yo e. y

There is pivoted on the side of the box away from the handle a plate 12, havin a tongue 13 thereon which extends inwardly from the side of the box. This plate has also a cut 14 in the inner edge thereof, in whichI the transverse bar of the yoke rides, this cut terminating in two notches 15, so that when 'the yoke is rocked to come into the lower notch (Figure 5) it `will pull down, on the plate, lowering the position of the tongue 13. When the yoke is rocked upwardly the tongue 13 will be thrust upwardly towardy the lid of the box.

The lid is formed with la hole 16 therein for fuse access. On the under side of this hole is formed a four, sided casing or hopper 16 open at the inner'end and o g into the hole, which hopper when the lid is closed comes down around the customers fuses. Also, either of one4 iece with lthe hopper or as separate pieces a ong the side thereof are two plates 17, 17 wlnch are raised away from the inner face of the lid, so asj'to `forni a guideway for a sliding shutter 18,-" which guideway extends between the hopper and the lid, so that the shutter may close oli the opening through the lid into the hopper.

Probably the best way of securin the hopper and guide plates to the lid will be by spot welding, but it should be noted that it is not necessary that the shutter slide on the inside of the box, or that the hopper be confined solely to the inside of the box.

The shutter has a flange that is turned up along one edge thereof as at 19, and this tiange will strike the tongue 13 on the plate 12, when the switch is moved by means of the yoke to open position. Also this flange will prevent the swinging of the yoke to close switch position if the fuse shutter is open. rIhis results from the relative positions of the tongue and shutter flange in each others path, as will be evident from the drawings. l

The struct-ure of the fuse and switch block I show in one piece with the terminals all on one end to facilitate wiring, but it will be understood from the point of view of the fuse arrangement, that this is not essential, as the switch and fuse blocks might be separate conductors strapped or merely wired up between them.

I show but one switch bar 20, pivotally secured to the terminal clip 21, and having a fork 22 of insulating material, which engages over the yoke, whereby the yoke will rock the switch bar. 'Ihe switch bar closes connection between the terminal 21 and the terminal 22a. rlhe terminals are all shown as mounted on a single block 230i porcelain or slate, which has cups 2itor the two fuses 25, said cups being enclosed by the hopper on the door when the same is closed.

The rear of the block is strapped with a connection 26 from terminal 22l to one oi the terminals of the left hand fuse 25, the other terminal 25a ot this fuse either being exposed for connection to a wire lead or else it can be strapped back te a terminal at the top of the block as shown in my application for patent, Serial No. 546,127, filed March 23, 1922.

'llhe terminal 21 is strapped at 27 in the back of the block to the terminal 28 of the service station fuse, which is in proximity to the switch blade, and hence out of access of the customer' through the 'fuse hopper. 'lhe station inse 29 set in a suitable cup connects terminals 28 with one ot the line terminals 30 ot the switch. rlhe other line terminal 31 ot the switch is strapped through to the other customers fuse 25, at 31SL and this fuse may again be strapped on the back of the block te a terminal atthe upper edge ot the bloeit, or may have its terminal 32 exposed, ne in the drawings herein.

It may thus he f" f tempts to plug the customers fuses and over-loads the circuit to which the current is delivered, thestation fuse will burn out, thereby requiring` the customer to call upon the service station inspector, who will then discover that the customer has been abusing the switch installation. The'fuse 29 will naturally be less sensitive than the fuses required by regulation to be used by the customer, and the use by the customer" of higheram rage fuses than he is su posed to use, wil also result in detection by the service station, should the customer overload his circuit.

I have also shown a test switch generally marked 33, located on the switch block for convenience in testing, 3ft, 34, for clipping on the test Wires.

It will be understood that I have described but one articular form of switch in the above speci cation, and that I will set forth in my claims the invention which I believe to be inherent in structures of the nature now ,described b me. i

Havin thus descri my invention, what I c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. In a switch box having a switch and fuses therein, a lid for the box having a fuse opening therein, a hopper mounted on the lid about the fuse opening and adapted together with the lid, to .house the fuses and to isolate them from the interior of the box, and a shutter controlling access to theA fuse casing when the lid is closed. p

2. ln a switch box having a switch and fuses therein, a lid for the box havinvan openingtherein in registry with the uses in the box, exteriorly operable means for opening and closing the switch, a hopper carried by the lid and surrounding the opening therein, the hopper and iid being mov able as a unit to a closed position wherein the fuse is housed within the hopper and isolated from the switch, said unit being movable to open the box and to provide unobstructed access to the entire interior of the box, and a shutter for the hopper adapted when the lid is closed, to be locked and unlocked upon movement of the switch operating means in opening and closing the switch whereby the reuse is rendered accessible from the exterior of the box, when the switch is open.

3. In a safety switch box structure the combination ot a switch box, a pertorate lid tor the box, a hopper mounted on the inner face or" the lid and surrounding the perforation therein, fuses in the boi; adapted tc project into the hopper when the lid is closed for permit-ing access to the fuses from the exterior ot the closed switch bor and precluding access to the remainder ot the interior of the box, a controllable closure for the fuse hopper.

and having tongues lili 4. In e theft proof and safety switch box .structure the combintion of a switch box which when open affords free aeess to the entire interior of the box, a switch in the box, fuse Connections disposed in the box ata distance from the switch, a perforate lid for the bok, a continuous hopper structure open at opposite ends and'secured to the lid about the perforation therein, and closing means for one of the open ends of the hopper struoture, the hopper structure being adapted to receive the fuses through the remaining open end and to isolate them from the interior of the box when thelid is closed.

GEORGE B. WADSWORTH. 

